Embossed sheet metal service connector



Aria 1951 J. ROGOFF EMBOSSED SHEET METAL SERVICE CQNNECTOR Filed Sept.21, 1946 INVENTOR Julmnjfiqggjf" B i ATTORN Y Patented Apr. 3, i951EMBOSSED SHEET METAL SERVICE CONNECTOR v JulianRogofl, New Rochelle, N.Y., assignor to- Burndy Engineering Company, Inc., a corporation of NewYork Application September 21, 1946, Serial No. 698,520

My invention relates to the split-bolt type of electrical wire or cableconnector which con sists of a slotted bolt, a nut threaded on theslotted bolt, and a follower which rides on the face of the nut and fitsin the slot in the bolt.

In Patent No. 2,164,006 granted to Bern Dibner and me, there isdescribed a split-bolt connector made of sheet metal. The sides of thehead of the split-bolt are flat and the threaded legs are arched. Thereinforcing follower is made with curved sides to fit the inside archesof the legs, and the ends of the legs are open to permit insertion orremoval of the reinforcing follower. This construction has manyadvantages as described in the patent but it has one disadvantage. Thefollower with curved sides is comparatively expensive because it must bemade to very close tolerances in order to fit properly and to supportthe inside curve of the legs of the split-bolt. It is thereforedesirable to devise a sheet metal split-bolt connector so constructedthat a follower having. straight sides may be employed withoutsubstantially weaking the connector.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a split-bolt madeof sheet metal which is stronger than those heretofore made in thismanner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a split bolt made with legshaving inner and outer curved surfaces which can be supported by afollower with flat sides.

Still another object. of my invention is to provide a sheet metalsplit-bolt having embossed legs to prevent twisting and collapse whentightening the nut thereon.

Another object of my invention is to provide a split-bolt connectorcapable of being manufactured at low cost by mass production methods.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as willbe apparent from the device and method of makingthe same described inthe following specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a blank from which my split-bolt is made.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a plan view after the embossing operation.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the blank illustrated in Fig. 3taken in the plane 4-4.

Fig. 5 is an end view of my split-bolt before threading the embossedlegs.

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-126) 2 Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the split-boltillustrated in Fig. 5 with one-half in section taken in the plane 66.

Fig. 7 is an end view of my split-bolt after the threading operation.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective View of my split-bolt and follower.

In making my split-bolt, I first stamp the sheet metal to the propershape as illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein there is provided a blank IU ofuniform thickness having a central head section H with two laterallyextending leg sections l2. Notches l3 are provided at the ends of theleg sections, during the blanking operation for purpose hereinafterexplained.

The leg sections are further formed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This isaccomplished by employing suitable dies and embossing a portion of eachleg to form hollow portions M on one side of the blank and causing theother side to be embossed into the curved surface I5 suitable forthreading purposes. During this operation the notched ends of each legsection are shaped to form pilots or guides It so that they will permita nut to be positioned thereon and facilitate engagement with thethreads formed on the legs.

Characteristic of each leg section is that it is hollow, with both endsof each hollow portion reinforced by walls of solid metal retained fromthe original surfaces of the blank, namely wall I? of the ends of theleg adjacent the pilot I6, and wall l8 adjacent the head section II.Additionally on each side of the hollow section M, are the marginalsurfaces I9 and 20 of the original metal surface which together with theend walls i1 and I8 form a frame of support for the embossed section,reinforcing the legs considerably as structural members, and enablingthe side walls of the follower to slidably engage the surfaces l9 and20.

In the next operation the head section is bent so that the legs extendat right angles therefrom, and are in spaced parallel relationship withthe hollowed portions opposite each other, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

The shape of the head section may be semicylindrically formed orV-shaped during the bending operation for supporting a wire or cabletherein, and that wrench-engaging surfaces 2| are provided on each sideof the head section H during the bending operation.

side engaging walls 25 may be applied thereto. After the threads areformed the edge surface 26 are cleaned to remove the projecting burrs orother metal that may remain after the threading operation to enable thethreads of the nut to enter the threads on the leg without interference.

My new device as has been shown, has the legs of the split-bolt made notmerely as open arches, but each as a closed shallow trough. The ends ofthe trough are closed by solid walls of metal which support the arch ofthe leg, and the sides of the trough retain a portion of the originalmetal surface, thus strengthening the leg and preventing twisting orcollapse of the arched section. The result is that it is possible to usethe follower with flat sides to support the legs of the split-bolt.Actually I have found that my new construction with reinforced hollowlegs as aforesaid and employing a fiat-sided follower is stronger thanthe old construction with the arched legs and curved follower. Inaddition, it is cheaper because the fiat sided follower is easier tomake and tolerances between the follower and the legs of the split-boltare less critical.

I have thus described my nvention, but I desire it understood that it isnot confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, thesame being merely illustrativaand that the invention may be carried outin other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and,therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalentins'trumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, andby means of which, objects of my invention are attained, and new resultsaccomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments hereinshown and described are only some of the many that can be employed toattain these objects and accomplish these results.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a service connector having a split-bolt, a nut and a follower:said split-bolt comprising a single piece of sheet metal having a headsection and a pair of extending legs having free ends, the insidesurface of each of said legs having an embossed area in the shape of atrough, and a fiat unembossed area extending laterally on each side ofthe trough and across the trough at the free end, said flat unembossedarea constituting supporting surfaces and reinforcing the trough, andsaid embossed area having threads on the outer surface thereof adaptedto receive the nut.

2. 'In a service connector having a split-bolt, .a nut and a follower:said split-bolt comprising a single piece of sheet metal having a headsection and a pair of extending legs, the inside surface of each of saidlegs having an embossed area in the shape of a trough, and a fiatunembossed area extending peripherally around the trough to provide aframe of fiat unembossed metal for reinforcing the trough and providingsupporting surfaces, and said embossed area having threads on the outersurface thereof adapted to receive the nut.

JULIAN R'OGO'FF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,006,794 Davidson July 2, 19352,037,066 Cook et a1 Apr. 14, 1936 2,046,942 Goeller July 7, 19362,164,006 Dibner et al June 2'7, 1939 2,238,911 McCullough et al. A r.22, 1941

